National Republican., 1887-12-10

the President and his party sauarely on free
trade; II clarifies the next presidential bat
tie as by q lightning stroke; II makes free
trade yB. protection tho oyerehadowlng
Issue: IL dwarfa and dismieses all other
questions; 1t clears away all cowsrdly eva
sions and Juggling slbferfuges; II ends all
pitiful personal beepatterlng; and Il sum
mons the American people to decide the
supreme question whether the grand pro-
tectIye system which has built up our spien-
did industries shall he overthrow or not |
New York Times: Mr., Cleveland has
done an act Of Craftsmanship In the best
sense. Recognizing great duty he has
performed IL with courage, with flrmness,
and at the right time. And he has per-
formed 1t so that every honest man must
see that 1t is an honest act, disinterested,
faithful to the requirements OF conscience,
without hope or purpose OF personal or
party advantage except such as comes from
tne public recognition OF public service.
judged by any ordinary standard OF polit-
icai expediency The Presidents act is mex
pedient. He hos forced upon his party an
issue az 70 which the party Ia divided, aud
so divided that unless the minority Yield,
II can defeat the will OF the majority
He has done this on the eve Of a national
contest, In which considerable number of
men OF influence In the party have been
urging him to avoid this Issue, and
threatening him and the party with disaster
II he did not avoid II. On the other hand,
there is nothing In this issue, thus pre-
eented, by which Nr. Cleveland could hope
to draw from the Republican party any
votes to compensate those he is in danger
OF losing and which he has been warned
over and again by leaders Of his own party
that he would lose. Not this alone, Tor IL
the protectionist faction In the Democratic
party carry out their own desires, or do
what they have Continually declared that
they would do, Mr.. Cleveland has done the
one thing BY which he could imperll the
prospect OF his own denomination. From
the point Of view OF the politician, he has.
shown courage that IA temerity In the pur-
suit OF an end Of no value to himself,
Philadelphia Times When It is consld.
eied that President Cleveland keeps so dis
tlnctly in view the maintenance OF our
manufactures and the labor EMPLOYED
therein, all assumption OF free trade theory
or purpose perishes from the minds OF the
American people; and when It is further
considered that the reduction Of protective
the standard Of protection fixed by the dis
tinctively Republican protective tariff Of
1861, known as the Morrill, tariff act, the
people will better understand what is
meant by tariG reduction to reduce the
revenues. In point Of fact, any reduction
Of duties IN Industries which are In compe-
tition with foreign Industries, below the
standard Of full protection to both capital
and labor, would increase rather than
reduce the revenues on those ar
ticles. Thus when the principle OF
maintaining our manufacturing Industries is
recognized, tariff revision to reduce reve-
nue. must maintain the standard of actual
protection to avoid increased revenue. The
chief obstacle TO wise tariff revision is In
the fact that the necessities Of war COM
PEELED largely increased duties on many
manufactured articles, and manufacturers
are reluctant TO assent to any reduction
from war taxes, The fact that many arti-
cles Of home necessity could and would be
produced cheaper than they are now fur
nished to consumers is shown In the pointed
reference OF the President to the rapidly
multiplying trusts or combinations which
are inten ded to maintain arbitrary and ex.
tortionate prices to consumers. Tariff re-
vision is called for that will not only pro.
tect manufacturers in their legitimats
profits, but at the same time largely re
duce the present cost Of articles which are
common necessities Of the people.